Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-22
AN INCIDENT.

that spauelcd the meadow grass with dia-
nonds The air, sweet and fresh, had still
moisture in it, but bore on it the scent or
moss and hay, and perhaps OF bean flowers
A Young lady standing at the gate INTO
large meadow inhaled the soft breeze with
ranture, and acknowledged mentally that
her unusual early rising had bestowed on her
a great and novel pleasure. The meadow
into which she was gazing was of some ex-
tent, as we have said, and was studded with
groups of elm trees, beneath one Of which
some cows were being MIXED by maid and
a bov. The miIkmaid was singing, and her
voice sounded sweet and fresh in the stiffness,
though moment atterward lark sprang
upwards with burst of melody that once
wholly engrossed Miss Denzirs attention.
The young heiress--for such she was-had
Travelled in lovely lands, and seen most Of the
wonders of nature and of European art, but
'.s1ch sacred and home felt delight" as she
experienced now was at once new TO her and
delightful Never before in her twenty years
of life had she risen at dawn dressed with
out assistance, and gone forth alone; aye,
even beyond the park gates The inheritor
If great wealth, she had been left an orphan
in her childhood. and had been brought up
by an aunt who was old fashioned and con-
ventional, and had kept her niece in strict
and monotonous routine of daily life.
Thus Mary Denzi had her troubles, petted
and considered as she was. Her aunt's temper
was cross and trying, her mode of life prim
and dull.
Those who knew all about Mary Dendl's
home wondered that she did not marry,
- only tg 4 ft-of ha
restraints her guardian imposed on her; but
there was depth of feeling and romance
in the girls heart, and she had not yet met
one whom she could love- or even quite trust;
for, that she would be sought for her wealth
had been early impressed on her, and she
dreaded being married only for her money
more than she could have expressed. But
her aunt had latterly urged the suit of man
Of great wealth and position, and Mary,
nearly half persuaded and half worried into
compliance, had passed disturbed and rest
less night. trying to make up her mind, and
had finally risen at dawn and gone out lin
defiance of all rules 10 find how well nature
can soothe and calm her children. She had
been tempted also to leave the park for the
pastures of the home farm, where her old
Nurse had been established with her son as
baihT and her daughter as dairymaid; the
daughter being Miss Denzils foster sister and
namesake.
II will have glass of the new milk" Miss
Denzil determined, as the larks song gradu-
ally foated away. Mary will be surprised
to see me-
And she opened the gate and proceeded
across the meadow, pauSing occasionally to
In ha of tba To-
or to a birds noe from the tree,
or % watch a splendid admiral but
terfly's flight from the boughs to the
grass among the wild flowers, her trouble
and indecision entirely forgotten She was
good embodiment of spring herself, looking
even younger than her real age and with a
fresh blooming complexion and abundant
golden hair, Il plquant little nose and rose
bud mouth, fair and sweet and smiling
though by no means beauty.
The milkmaid, as soon as the rustling Of
the lady'S dress through the grass caught hei
ear, looked up from the side of the COW
against which her head rested, and seeing
Miss Denzil rose in such surprise that sh,
nearly upset her milk pail
We'll, Mary" said the young lady, ''yo,
seem very happy over your task. Can yol
give me cup Of milkn
II haven't cup, Miss Denzil,n said tn
girl "but Jim7-turning to boy who wa
milking another COW near her-"shall run t
the farm and get one
Miss DenHl nodded assent and Jim ran of
The young lady, refusing the milking stoo
sank down on the grass, and taking off he
hat let the soft breeze play in her beautift
sai- hoir ~ p rb Of
"How delicious the early morning i.
How happy YOU must be, Mary, in thos
sweet meadows, with those gentle creature.
and with your indulgent, loving mothel
You have no cares, no doubts, no fears fo
the future. Tell me, are you not perfect
happyT
"Ial Miss Denzil,~ said Mary. with wild
open eyes, there isn't anybody that hash
got something to fret about, except perhaI
grand lady like yourself
"Oh, Mary, riches do not give happiness
But tell me- what troubles have yous | dar
say when your mother lived at the hall an
You were with your aunt at Wonlwich, 70
were not quite comfortable; but now
such pretty horne and with dear nurse
Mary, tel me what can trouble you
Mary colored and hung her head "Wel
ma'am, she said, Il am troubled because
can't write to my young man"
"Yom young mani | did not know yc
had one. Who is he, and where is her aste
the heiress Nurse never told me of it."
mo. ma'am: mother don't like me
NARY soldier But he'll soon be able
get his discharge, and we can wait Onl
he's in India, ard can't write to him"
'.Why nOtf Does ntree forbid ityr
ooh, no, naam, But | can't write. Aul
made me take care of her children, and hs
very little schooling To be sure, Cous
Martha writes for me. but that amt plea
ant"
"Well, MARY said the young lady, II W
try to help yon. You shall come every NOR
ing for an bour 10 the hall, and will tea
you TO write
Mary was warm in her thanks "Fol
she edded naively, II don't like Martin
writing To him. She was setting her cap
him before he went, and don't know VII
she may say to him in my letters"
Miss Denzil smiled at the incipient' Jealous
II will be your amanuensis, then" she Sc
good naturally
"Ma'amf" looking puzzled
81 mean that will write for you until y
can write for yourself"
Marys face beamed, and she was 81
stainmering her thanks when Jim reappear
with a glass, and she FASTENED to press
warm fresh milk into it.
Miss Denzil, after she had drunk
rose, and bidding the girl come to
early next morning, took her way back
the hall, smiling to herself as she thought
riting love letters, as proxy for peasa
girl, to distant private in her majesty's s
vice
How little she thought what would CO.
of i'll
She was rather pleased at the idea of {
Office she had taken on herself: it wol
make her useful and she had long felt |
purposelessness Of her daily life US well as
dullness.
Mary made her appearance at the hall {
next morning with due punctuality, q
found Miss Denzil ready for her in that you
ladys pleasant room. She MARY DenziD v
seated at table placed near an open W
dow, through which the morning sun glin
cheerily.
"Well, Mary she said, as the girl Gu
seyed, u find that the Indian mail goes
morrow; so we had better take part of
time today for the letter writing. Get
chair and sit by me- That is right; now
me what l am to say to What is
namer
Jack Parker, Miss Denzil.n
Very well; l have written, Dear
Jack; now tell me what to say next"
But Mary appeared to find it as difficult
employ an amanuensis as Goldsmith did.